Between 1928 and 1934, wheat prices in India fell by 50 per cent, yet the colonial government refused to redu…

Question

Between 1928 and 1934, wheat prices in India fell by 50 per cent, yet the colonial government refused to reduce revenue demands on peasants. What was the immediate consequence of this combination for the peasant economy?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Peasants were trapped in a severe debt crisis — their incomes crashed while revenue demands remained unchanged, forcing them to mortgage lands, sell jewellery, and fall deeper into debt. *Source: Chapter 3, Section 3.5 — India and the Great Depression* --- ## Explanation The examiner expects you to link two causes (falling prices + unchanged revenue) to one consequence (indebtedness/debt trap). Key terms to use: "revenue demands," "debt," "mortgaged lands." Avoid writing about the Civil Disobedience Movement or Bengal jute growers specifically — that goes beyond the one-line limit for 1 mark.

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question